Compare towns
Clay vs Java vs Hastings vs Lysander
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Clay has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Java has the most homeowners (95.2%).
Hastings has the most affordable homes ($188k median).
Lysander has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Clay | Java | Hastings | Lysander |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 59,995Highest |
2,049Lowest |
9,345 |
23,086 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4% NY: +4.2% |
-4.1%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-1.1% NY: +4.2% |
+6%Highest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 39.8±1Lowest about the NY average |
44.2±5.5Highest 11% above NY |
43.1±3.7 8% above NY |
43.6±1.9 10% above NY |
| Java and Lysander are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.1%±1.3 NY: 20.5% |
20.7%±4.7 NY: 20.5% |
17.3%±2.8Lowest NY: 20.5% |
24.4%±2.9Highest NY: 20.5% |
| Lysander and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.7%±1.1 NY: 17.9% |
19.5%±3.6Highest NY: 17.9% |
14.6%±2.7Lowest NY: 17.9% |
17.6%±1.9 NY: 17.9% |
| Java and Clay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.2% NY: 40.2% |
24.6% NY: 40.2% |
19.5%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
47.6%Highest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±0.7Highest NY: 7% |
3%±2.4Lowest NY: 7% |
4.4%±1.2Highest NY: 7% |
3.6%±0.9 NY: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $90,707±$6k 6% above NY |
$95,129±$24k 11% above NY |
$84,027±$8kLowest about the NY average |
$107,984±$5kHighest 26% above NY |
| Lysander and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $205,900±$6k 51% below NY |
$223,900±$30k 47% below NY |
$187,700±$17kLowest 56% below NY |
$288,400±$18kHighest 32% below NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,240±$40Highest 24% below NY |
$863±$419Lowest 47% below NY |
$917±$129 43% below NY |
$1,130±$100 30% below NY |
| Clay and Lysander are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,087 23% below NY |
$3,775Lowest 43% below NY |
$4,565 31% below NY |
$6,748Highest about the NY average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.6%±5.6 NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
47.9%±11.8 NY: 52.1% |
54.5%±10.5Highest NY: 52.1% |
| Lysander and Hastings are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.4% NY: 14% |
3.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
10.5%Highest NY: 14% |
5.8% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.2%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
79.1% NY: 54.3% |
81.5% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 19 yrs newer than NY |
1956Lowest 3 yrs older than NY |
1984 25 yrs newer than NY |
1985Highest 26 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 34% below NY |
27 min 17% below NY |
31 minHighest 6% below NY |
24 min 26% below NY |
| Work from home | 13.1%±1.4 NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4 NY: 14.9% |
8.9%±3Lowest NY: 14.9% |
16.6%±3.1Highest NY: 14.9% |
| Lysander and Clay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #249 of 484 in NY | — | #328 of 484 in NY | #158 of 484 in NY |
| School district | LIVERPOOL CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT · NORTH SYRACUSE CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — | CENTRAL SQUARE CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | BALDWINSVILLE CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | LIVERPOOL HIGH SCHOOL | — | PAUL V MOORE HIGH SCHOOL | CHARLES W BAKER HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.0 |
— | 11.9Lowest |
15.4Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
NY average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.